Raft anchoring assembly

ABSTRACT

A raft anchoring assembly for anchoring a raft in a swimming pool includes a raft for floating in a swimming pool. A plurality of anchors is included and each of the anchors includes a line is coupled to a suction cup. The suction cup on each of the anchors engages a floor or a wall of a swimming pool to secure the anchors. A plurality of attachments is provided and each of the attachments is coupled to the outer surface of the raft. The line of each of the anchors is releasably coupled to a respective one of the attachments to inhibit the raft from drifting in the pool.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to anchoring devices and more particularly pertains to a new anchoring device for anchoring a raft in a swimming pool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a raft for floating in a swimming pool. A plurality of anchors is included and each of the anchors includes a line is coupled to a suction cup. The suction cup on each of the anchors engages a floor or a wall of a swimming pool to secure the anchors. A plurality of attachments is provided and each of the attachments is coupled to the outer surface of the raft. The line of each of the anchors is releasably coupled to a respective one of the attachments to inhibit the raft from drifting in the pool.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective in-use view of a raft anchoring assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an attachment of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an attachment of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an anchor of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of suction cup of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an anchor being inserted into an attachment of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new anchoring device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the raft anchoring assembly 10 generally comprises a raft 12 for floating in a swimming pool 14. The raft 12 has an outer surface 16 and the raft 12 may be an inflatable raft or any other floatation device commonly used to float in a swimming pool 14. A plurality of anchors 18 is provided and each of the anchors 18 includes a line 20 that is coupled to a suction cup 22. The suction cup 22 on each of the anchors 18 suctionally engages a floor 24 or a wall of a swimming pool 14 for securing the anchors 18 to the floor 24 or the wall of the swimming pool 14.

The suction cup 22 of each of the anchors 18 has a top surface 26, a bottom surface 28 and a peripheral edge 30 extending therebetween. Each of the top surface 26 and the bottom surface 28 is concavely arcuate with respect to the peripheral edge 30 to define a bowl for suctionally engaging the floor 24 or the wall of the swimming pool 14. The line 20 of each of the anchors 18 is attached to the top surface 26 of the suction cup 22 of the respective anchor 18. The line 20 of each of the anchors 18 has a plurality of balls 31 thereon and the balls 31 on the line 20 of each of the anchors 18 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed along the line 20 of the respective anchor 18.

A plurality of tabs 32 is included with the plurality of anchors 18. Each of the tabs 32 is coupled to the suction cup 22 of a respective one of the anchors 18. The tab 32 on the suction cup 22 of the respective anchor 18 is gripped to release the suction cup 22 of the respective anchor 18 from the wall or the floor 24 of the swimming pool 14. Moreover, each of the tabs 32 has an opening 34 extending therethrough for gripping with a user's toe or finger.

A plurality of attachments 36 is included and each of the attachments 36 is coupled to the outer surface 16 of the raft 12. The line 20 of each of the anchors 18 is releasably coupled to a respective one of the attachments 36 to inhibit the raft 12 from drifting in the swimming pool 14. Thus, the user may lay on the raft 12 for sunbathing or the like while the raft 12 is stationary in the swimming pool 14. Each of the attachments 36 comprises a panel 38 that has a first surface 40 and a second surface 42, and the panel 38 is comprised of a deformable material.

Each of the attachments 36 includes a raft mating member 44 that is coupled to the first surface 40 of the panel 38. The raft mating member 44 engages the outer surface 16 of the raft 12 to retain the panel 38 on the raft 12. The raft mating member 44 may be an adhesive strip or any other resilient mating member that is not affected by exposure to water, chlorine and other compounds commonly found in a swimming pool 14. A first mating member 46 is coupled to the second surface 42 of the panel 38 the first mating member 46 covers the second surface 42. The first mating member 46 may be a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener.

Each of the attachments 36 includes a coupler 48 that has a top surface 50, a bottom surface 52 and a peripheral edge 54 extending therebetween. The peripheral edge 54 of the coupler 48 has a first lateral side 56, a second lateral side 58 and a back side 59 extending between the first lateral side 56 and the second lateral side 58. Each of the first lateral side 56 and the second lateral side 58 intersect such that the coupler 48 has a triangular shape. The coupler 48 includes a pair of feet 60 that each extend laterally away from the respective one of the first lateral side 56 and the second lateral side 58. The coupler 48 has a first aperture 62 extending through the top surface 26 and the bottom surface 28. Additionally, the coupler 48 has a second aperture 64 extending through the top surface 26 and the bottom surface 28. The coupler 48 has a channel 66 extending through the top surface 26 and the bottom surface 28 and the channel 66 intersects each of the first aperture 62 and the second aperture 64.

The first aperture 62 has a diameter that is sufficient to insertably receive a selected one of the balls 31 on the line 20 of a respective one of the anchors 18. The line 20 of the respective anchor 18 is extended through the channel 66 until the line 20 of the respective anchor 18 is positioned in the second aperture 64. The second aperture 64 has a diameter that is insufficient to pass the selected ball 30 therethrough. In this way the line 20 of the respective anchor 18 is releasably coupled to the coupler 48. The first aperture 62 is positioned between the second aperture 64 and the back side 59 of the coupler 48, and the second aperture 64 is aligned with a distal point 67 on coupler 48 with respect to the back side 59 of the coupler 48.

A second mating member 68 is coupled to the back side 59 of the coupler 48 and the second mating member 68 is wrapped upwardly around each of the feet 60 on the coupler 48. The coupler 48 is positioned on the panel 38 having the second mating member 68 releasably engaging the first mating member 46 to retain the coupler 48 on the panel 38. The panel 38 is wrapped around each of the feet 60 to join the coupler 48 to the panel 38. Thus, a portion of the second mating member 68 that is positioned on each of the feet 60 releasably engages the first mating member 46 on a portion of the panel 38 that is wrapped around each of the feet 60.

In use, the raft mating member 44 on the panel 38 of each of the attachments 36 is coupled to the outer surface 16 of the raft 12. The suction cup 22 on each of the anchors 18 is secured to the floor 24 of the swimming pool 14 or the wall of the swimming pool 14. The raft 12 is oriented in the swimming pool 14 such that the raft 12 is positioned between the suction cups 22 on each of the anchors 18. The line 20 on each of the anchors 18 is extended through the first aperture 62 in a respective one of the coupler 48 s on the raft 12.

The line 20 on each of the anchors 18 is pulled tight in the respective coupler 48 and the line 20 on each of the anchors 18 is passed through the channel 66 in the respective coupler 48 until the line 20 on each of the anchors 18 is positioned in the second aperture 64 in the respective aperture. Thus, the ball on the line 20 of the anchor in the respective coupler 48 is inhibited from passing through the second aperture 64 thereby securing the raft 12 to the anchors 18. In this way the raft 12 is inhibited from drifting due to wind or current created by a filtration system in the swimming pool 14. The user may then lie on the raft 12 for sunbathing or relaxing while the raft 12 is stationary in the swimming pool 14.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A raft anchoring assembly being configured to secure a raft to a floor or walls of a swimming pool, said assembly comprising: a raft being configured to float in a swimming pool, said raft having an outer surface; a plurality of anchors, each of said anchors including a line being coupled to a suction cup wherein each of said anchors is configured to have said suction cup engage a floor or a wall of a swimming pool; and a plurality of attachments, each of said attachments being coupled to said outer surface of said raft, said line of each of said anchors being releasably coupled to a respective one of said attachments wherein said raft is configured to be inhibited from drifting in the pool.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said suction cup of each of said anchors has a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge extending therebetween, each of said top surface and said bottom surface being concavely arcuate with respect to said peripheral edge to define a bowl wherein said suction cup of each of said anchors is configured to suctionally engage the floor or the wall of the swimming pool.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said line of each of said anchors is attached to said top surface of said suction cup of a respective one of said anchors, said line of each of said anchors having a plurality of balls thereon, said balls on said line of each of said anchors being spaced apart from each other and being distributed along said line of said respective anchor.
 4. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of tabs, each of said tabs being coupled to said suction cup of a respective one of said anchors wherein said tab on said suction cup of said respective anchor is configured to be gripped to release said suction cup of said respective anchor from the wall or the floor of the swimming pool, each of said tabs having an opening extending therethrough for gripping.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said attachments comprises a panel having a first surface and a second surface, said panel being comprised of a deformable material.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a raft mating member being coupled to said first surface of said panel, said raft mating member engaging said outer surface of said raft to retain said panel on said raft.
 7. The assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a first mating member being coupled to said second surface of said panel, said first mating member covering said second surface.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, further comprising a coupler having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge extending therebetween, said peripheral edge having a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a back side extending between said first lateral side and said second lateral side, said coupler including a pair of feet each extending laterally away from the respective one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said coupler has a first aperture extending through said top surface and said bottom surface.
 10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein coupler has a second aperture extending through said top surface and said bottom surface.
 11. The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said coupler has a channel extending through said top surface and said bottom surface, said channel intersecting each of said first aperture and said second aperture.
 12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein: said line of each of said anchors includes a plurality of balls; and said first aperture has a diameter being sufficient to insertably receive a selected one of said balls on said line of a respective one of said anchors, said line of said respective anchor being extended through said channel until said line of said respective anchor is positioned in said second aperture, said second aperture having a diameter being insufficient to pass said selected ball therethrough such that said line of said respective anchor is releasably coupled to said coupler.
 13. The assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a second mating member being coupled to said back side of said coupler, said second mating member being wrapped upwardly around each of said feet on said coupler, said coupler being positioned on said panel having said second mating member releasably engaging said first mating member to retain said coupler on said panel, said panel being wrapped around each of said feet such that a portion of said second mating member on each of said feet releasably engages said first mating member on a portion of said panel being wrapped around each of said feet.
 14. A raft anchoring assembly being configured to secure a raft to a floor or walls of a swimming pool, said assembly comprising: a raft being configured to float in a swimming pool, said raft having an outer surface; a plurality of anchors, each of said anchors including a line being coupled to a suction cup wherein each of said anchors is configured to have said suction cup engage a floor or a wall of a swimming pool, said suction cup of each of said anchors having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge extending therebetween, each of said top surface and said bottom surface being concavely arcuate with respect to said peripheral edge to define a bowl wherein said suction cup of each of said anchors is configured to suctionally engage the floor or the wall of the swimming pool, said line of each of said anchors being attached to said top surface of said suction cup of a respective one of said anchors, said line of each of said anchors having a plurality of balls thereon, said balls on said line of each of said anchors being spaced apart from each other and being distributed along said line of said respective anchor; a plurality of tabs, each of said tabs being coupled to said suction cup of a respective one of said anchors wherein said tab on said suction cup of said respective anchor is configured to be gripped to release said suction cup of said respective anchor from the wall or the floor of the swimming pool, each of said tabs having an opening extending therethrough for gripping; and a plurality of attachments, each of said attachments being coupled to said outer surface of said raft, said line of each of said anchors being releasably coupled to a respective one of said attachments wherein said raft is configured to be inhibited from drifting in the pool, each of said attachments comprising: a panel having a first surface and a second surface, said panel being comprised of a deformable material; a raft mating member being coupled to said first surface of said panel, said raft mating member engaging said outer surface of said raft to retain said panel on said raft; a first mating member being coupled to said second surface of said panel, said first mating member covering said second surface; a coupler having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge extending therebetween, said peripheral edge having a first lateral side, a second lateral side and a back side extending between said first lateral side and said second lateral side, said coupler including a pair of feet each extending laterally away from the respective one of said first lateral side and said second lateral side, said coupler having a first aperture extending through said top surface and said bottom surface, said coupler having a second aperture extending through said top surface and said bottom surface, said coupler having a channel extending through said top surface and said bottom surface, said channel intersecting each of said first aperture and said second aperture, said first aperture having a diameter being sufficient to insertably receive a selected one of said balls on said line of a respective one of said anchors, said line of said respective anchor being extended through said channel until said line of said respective anchor is positioned in said second aperture, said second aperture having a diameter being insufficient to pass said selected ball therethrough such that said line of said respective anchor is releasably coupled to said coupler; and a second mating member being coupled to said back side of said coupler, said second mating member being wrapped upwardly around each of said feet on said coupler, said coupler being positioned on said panel having said second mating member releasably engaging said first mating member to retain said coupler on said panel, said panel being wrapped around each of said feet such that a portion of said second mating member on each of said feet releasably engages said first mating member on a portion of said panel being wrapped around each of said feet. 